When an assembly of the people, by the gradual crowding round of the multitude,
had mingled with the senate to hear these proposals, the chief men suddenly
withdrawing before an answer was returned, and throwing all the gold and silver
collected, both from public and private stores, into a fire hastily kindled
for that purpose, the greater part flung themselves also into it. When the dismay
and agitation produced by this deed had pervaded the whole city, another noise
was heard in addition from the citadel. A tower, long battered, had fallen down;
and when a Carthaginian cohort, rushing through the breach, had made a signal
to the general that the city was destitute of the usual outposts and guards,
Hannibal, thinking that there ought to be no delay at such an opportunity, having
attacked the city with his whole forces, took it in a moment, command being
given that all the adults should be put to death; which command, though cruel,
was proved in the issue to have been almost necessary. For to whom of those
men could mercy have been shown, who, either shut up with their wives and children,
burned their houses over their own heads, or abroad in arms made no end of fighting,
except in death.
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